Derby Dreams Fuel 1.9 Million February Record

Thursday's new February Sale record and lively pre-dusk session transpired to be a mere warm-up act for Friday's main event as Classic prospect Willie John (GB) (Dansili {GB}) smashed through the seven-figure barrier to sell for 1.9 million gns to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.

The horse's new trainer Roger Varian appeared unmoved by the fact that in outbidding a host of rivals which included Oliver Gaisford St. Lawrence, Ed Dunlop, Ed Sackville, Julian Dollar, Anthony Stroud and, ultimately, Chris Richardson, he played a major part in a setting a February record which will likely remain unsurpassed for years to come. But then that's perhaps no surprise as, since becoming the sheikh's main trainer several seasons ago, Varian has also been sent into bat in pursuit of some mouth-watering racing prospects for the Dubaian owner, including this colt's 2-year-old half-brother by Dubawi (Ire) who cost 2.6 million gns in the same ring just four months ago.

“He's cantering nicely and is looking like a nice horse,” said Varian of the juvenile, and added that he was looking forward to getting to know new recruit Willie John, who was offered as lot 379 and will be moved across Newmarket from William Haggas's Somerville Lodge.

The 3-year-old, a comfortable winner of a Yarmouth maiden last October, holds entries for the Derby and Irish Derby, and now brings up the hat-trick of offspring of Meon Valley Stud's dual Group 1 winner Izzi Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) to have sold for seven-figure sums. As previously mentioned, her Dubawi colt was one of the stars of last year's Book 1, while her first foal Dreamfield (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) sold for 1.1 million gns as a yearling. In comparison to his brothers, Willie John was a relatively cheap yearling at 'only' 325,000gns when bought by the Mayfair Speculators, but he has now made amends with his starring role at Tattersalls' first sale of 2018.

Of the colt from Meon Valley's most successful foundation family, which incudes the Group 1-winning full-brothers and stallions Kayf Tara (GB) and Opera House (GB), Varian added, “He won well on his only start and he's a promising horse with a great pedigree. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid obviously has an extra interest in the family and we're just very lucky to have been doing the steering for him.”

Following Thursday's sale of four fillies in whom Markus Jooste had an ownership interest for 1.77 million gns, horses owned by the former Steinhoff boss accounted for five of the top six lots of the auction, that quintet adding 3.67 million gns to the greatly enhanced aggregate.

Roaring Start To Tatts' Year
During a record-breaking opener to 2018 at Park Paddocks, the median figure and the clearance rate were the only indicators to drop following an overall uplift in turnover by 40% to a record 8,037,150gns. Thirty-nine fewer horses were sold this time around, but this mixed winter fixture rarely offers jewels quite so sparkling as those on display over the last two days. Of the 360 horses offered, 299 sold for a clearance rate of 83% which was down from 90% last year. Unsurprisingly, the average also shot up, by 58%, to 26,880gns, while the median fell by 13% to 7,000gns.

The second day's action, with 154, or 92% of the horses sold,  accounted for a 64% rise in turnover for corresponding sessions to 4,044,500gns. The average was up by 93% to 26,263gns and the median fell 9% to 7,750gns.

Such buoyant trade moved Tattersalls' chairman Edmond Mahony to comment at the sale's conclusion, “Last year's Tattersalls February Sale reached unprecedented levels for this fixture with turnover of more than double the record 2016 sale and an average price up 56%, so to surpass those figures is another phenomenal achievement, especially with a smaller catalogue.

“The obvious highlight was the 1.9 million guineas sale of the outstanding Classic prospect Wille John and it is a wonderful endorsement of the February Sale that, although one of our newer and smaller sales, it now holds the distinction of producing the highest-priced colt in training ever sold at public auction in Europe. Willie John is a colt of enormous potential, from an outstanding Meon Valley family, and the number of bidders above the million guineas mark shows the sustained demand for the very best European bloodstock that is very much the hallmark of sales at Tattersalls.”

He continued, “The 500,000gns previous record price for the February Sale has been surpassed four times in the past two days, demonstrating beyond any doubt that this is a sale which consistently produces optimum prices for quality thoroughbreds, while at the same time serving as a perfect seasonal outlet for stock at all levels of the market. As ever, the international demand has been a feature of the sale and in addition to strong European participation, buyers from throughout the Gulf region, America, Hong Kong, Japan and South Africa have all made a significant contribution to a record breaking start to 2018 at Tattersalls.”

Jacques Won't Relent For Juddmonte Filly
Juddmonte can always be relied upon to provide highlights at Tattersalls' horses-in-training sales and three of the most expensive five lots of the second day's trade emanated from Prince Khalid Abdullah's operation.

Friday's leading lady was the unraced 3-year-old Relent (GB) (lot 375), out of a King's Best half-sister to Flintshire (GB) and also by that multiple top-level winner's sire, Dansili (GB). From a family that also boasts the top-rated filly in Europe, Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Relent is an enticing addition to Yvonne Jacques's growing broodmare band at Carisbrooke Stud in Berkshire, which is managed by Joe Grimwade.

“We were underbidders on the Galileo filly [Key To My Heart] yesterday but we're delighted to have bought this filly–she has the pedigree and the looks,” said agent Cathy Grassick after outbidding Chris Richardson at 220,000gns.

“She is for Yvonne's new farm and venture Carrisbrooke Stud, the former Raffin Stud. Yvonne is looking to have a band of around 15 to 20 top-class broodmares.”

Relent is a half-sister to Projected (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), winner last September of the GII Baltimore/Washington International Turf S. for Chad Brown.

Cheveley Park Stud Stocks Up
A quickfire double for lots 369 and 370 ensured that two well-bred 3-year-old fillies from Juddmonte will pass to the hands of another major owner-breeder, Cheveley Park Stud.

The latter, the unraced Fellbeck (GB), a Cacique (GB) half-sister to the black-type winners Weightless (GB) (In The Wings {GB}), Main Aim (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Home Affairs (GB) (Dansili {GB}), was one of four horses on the second day to reach six figures when selling for 100,000gns.

Canada Water (GB) (Dansili {GB}), a sister to the Arc winner Rail Link (GB), had sold for 110,000gns on the opening day of the sale and her unraced daughter Guelta (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB}) was another of the leading lights of the in-training section of the Juddmonte draft when knocked down at 75,000gns.

After bidding on the pair, Cheveley Park Stud's managing director Chris Richardson confirmed that the fillies had been bought to support the farm's new stallion Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Richardson signed for ten fillies and mares throughout the sale to make Cheveley Park Stud the leading buyer numerically.

Zenon Joins The Mighty Mullins
John Gosden and Willie Mullins are both masters of their respective codes and the latter has enjoyed particular success in the jumping sphere with former Gosden trainee Nichols Canyon (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), the winner of eight Grade 1 hurdle races, while Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling) has enjoyed a lucrative dual-purpose career since switching from Newmarket to County Carlow and was last seen finishing sixth in the G1 Emirates Melbourne Cup.

It was no surprise then to spot Mullins's trusted lieutenant Harold Kirk lurking in the gangway as Gosden's draft from Clarehaven Stables was offered and the well-credentialed Zenon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) appeared in the ring as lot 394. Despite plenty of interest from other parties, Kirk held out to place the final bid of 120,000gns for the 96-rated 4-year-old, whose days as a colt appear to be numbered.

“It's the right time of the year for us to be able to geld him and give him a break and we hope he can then go jumping as well as being a promising staying prospect on the Flat,” Kirk said. “We've been lucky buying from John Gosden and this horse stays well and has a decent rating.”

Zenon is a son of the champion Indian racemare Jacqueline (Ind) (King Charlemagne), an eight-time winner in her native country who has a juvenile filly from the first crop of Galileo's Derby-winning son Australia (GB) to race for her this season.